Valley's softball team wouldn't mind performing the same ol' song and dance this week.

Roosevelt prefers exploring uncharted territory.

Eaton wouldn't mind something in between.

All three programs will be at the Aurora Sports Park this Friday and Saturday, and each comes in with a mindset that is starkly in contrast from one another.

Class 3A's fourth seed, the Vikings (14-7), are determined to prove they are still the same Valley program that has won two state titles and contended for several others during the last half-decade.

Roosevelt (13-9), the 16th seed in 4A, is making its first state tournament appearance since moving up to 4A five years ago. The Rough Riders can make an immediate impact if they can upset top-seeded Wheat Ridge (20-1) in the first round at 10 a.m. Friday.

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Eaton (13-7-1), a 3A state tournament regular in recent years, is less of a stranger to the Aurora Sports Park than are the Rough Riders.

Merely playing in the state tournament may not be enough for the Reds this year. Eaton is looking to do what its Patriot League rival has done with regularity and be one of the final two teams standing when the dust clears Saturday afternoon.

If the fifth-seeded Reds are able to get past their first-round opponent, No. 12 Cedaredge (14-7), at 12:15 p.m. Friday, they won't have to wait long for the chance to prove themselves as a legit contender. They would play aforementioned Valley at 2:30 p.m. Friday in the quarterfinals.

Each of the above factors, along with many others, could make for an intriguing weekend for local softball fans.

» Here are three storylines to watch for at this weekend's state softball tournaments:

1. Can Valley's two aces lead the Vikings back to the promised land?

With seven losses entering the state tournament, Valley may have had a bit more of an up-and-down season than its used to.

The Vikings went 19-5 last fall (2nd in state) after winning back-to-back titles with records of 24-1 and 21-5 in 2011 and '10, respectively.

Though Valley hasn't put up the offensive numbers that some of its championship squads have in recent years, the Vikings do have an ace — make that, a pair of aces — in their sleeve.

Junior Bridgette Hutton's statistics are every bit as impressive — a 0.95 ERA with 92 strikeouts, 15 walks and an 8-1 record in 51 1⁄3 innings.

On Saturday, Hutton threw her third no-hitter of the season and eighth of her career in Valley's 9-0 regional tournament win against Gunnison.

The Vikings had 12 hits in the game with five players recording RBI. Coach Kevin Miles said when one of his talented pitchers tosses a gem, Valley's batters seem to swing the bats with added determination, not wanting to let down their pitcher.

"We've been working on trying to get our girls to be confident in ourselves," Miles said on Saturday. "When (Hutton) comes in and throws a game like that, it gives our team confidence."

2. How will Roosevelt players deal with being state tournament newcomers?

The last time Roosevelt qualified for the state tournament, all of this year's Rough Rider players were years from making their high school debuts.

The Rough Riders solidified their return to the Aurora Sports Complex with a 5-3 win-or-go-home victory at regionals Saturday against Frederick.

Roosevelt coach Alan Gibson, who is in his third year back coaching the program he started, said returning to the state tournament is a leap forward for a program that has progressed steadily in recent years.

"This is a huge step for our program," Gibson wrote in an email Saturday. "I'm so proud and happy that our girls, especially the seniors, will get to have the experience of participating and competing in the state tournament and get one more week of softball."

Though Roosevelt doesn't have a player with state tournament experience, its veteran-led squad could give the team hope of scraping with powerhouse Wheat Ridge.